But in the ad, the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee goes on to say, "You can take it from me, the conservative choice for Congress is Mike Simpson."

"I know because I've seen him in action. Mike is fighting hard every day to cut Washington's wasteful spending, to stop junk lawsuits and to fight against Obamacare."

Romney, who has ruled out another bid for the White House, stars in the new spot for Simpson, which was put out by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The eight-term congressman faces a tough challenge from the right in Idaho's May 20th primary from Bryan Smith, an attorney who claims that Simpson is not conservative enough and is soft on spending. Smith is backed by some tea party groups and by the DC-based anti-tax group Club for Growth, which has a history of backing conservative primary challengers. The group has gone up with some spots critical of Simpson.

"We are going to win this battle. I hope you'll join me and strongly support Mike Simpson for Congress," Romney says at the end of the spot.

Romney's starring role in the commercial is the first time he's appeared in a campaign ad this cycle.

Simpson represents Idaho's 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from Boise to the borders with Wyoming and Montana and covers the entire eastern and most of the central parts of the state. Romney's backing could especially help in eastern Idaho, which has a large Mormon population.

Simpson was an early supporter of Romney's 2012 presidential bid.

Simpson is also being backed by House Speaker John Boehner and other members of the House GOP leadership.

"The U.S. Chamber is proud to stand with Governor Mitt Romney in support of Mike Simpson, the conservative choice for Congress in Idaho's second district. Mike Simpson has a proven record fighting for Idaho values and policies that support job creation and economic freedom. He has received a 92% lifetime rating with the U.S. Chamber," said Rob Engstrom, the Chamber's national political director.

The Chamber tells CNN that their commercial will start running Wednesday on broadcast and cable in the Boise, Idaho Falls-Pocatello, and Twin Falls TV markets.

Political Payback

Romney may have enjoyed some political payback, courtesy of his son Josh.

Two years after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, during the 2012 presidential election, repeated an unsubstantiated report that Mitt Romney had not paid his taxes, Josh Romney tweeted Tuesday tweeted a photo of his father standing in line to pay his taxes.

soundoff(39 Responses)

Name

Romney-loser, criminal, moron, oops Mormon

April 15, 2014 08:06 pm at 8:06 pm |

MaryM

Yea, that will work. Put the LOSER in your ad. lol

April 15, 2014 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm |

ak_steve

I could care less about Romney. But I am sick of the GOP LIES about spending and the deficit. Spending increased as did the deficit when the GOP was in charge. Both have gone down when Obama took office.

Willard showed the country how to lie straight faced, this man believe the lies he was saying, being president was only a step for to finish cleaning out the bank.

April 16, 2014 12:13 am at 12:13 am |

AMCNYC

Mittens obviously didn't read his Wall St Journal before launching his "Washington spending is out-of-control" ad campaign....had he, he would have read confirmation that the March Deficit was the lowest since 2000...plus CBO reported that Obamacare is going to cost less than originally thought and will reduce the Deficit by $109 billion more than estimate!

However, GOP has wasted $55 million on Repeal Obamacare votes, $5 million on defending DOMA which SCOTUS then destroyed, Darrell Issa has wasted about $30 million on Benghazi/IRS/Fast and Furious fake scandal investigations and GOP Senators Ted Cruz/Mike Lee + Teaparty spearheaded the waste of $26 billion by GOP on the Government Shutdown, for which Mike Simpson voted!

Romney's Mike Simpson ad, like his own former presidential campaigns, is a farce.

April 16, 2014 02:25 am at 2:25 am |

Winston Smith

Endorsed by a suit that's empty. What less could a person want?

April 16, 2014 03:32 am at 3:32 am |

Luc

mitt starring in campaign add that is laughable. Next you will also McCain another Obama victim doing adds. It just shows you that GOP will never learn from past mistakes using someone who doesn't like the 47 percent and loves to buy and sell companies at the expense of American jobs.

Ask yourself this...could President Obama be part of an ad to endorse anyone of the Senate candidates to run in 2014? Mitt is still respected in the political arena and does not come along with the political "baggage" that President Obama currently totes along. If you love living in the ditch of life, continue to vote for Democrats with stale ideas and no new solutions to lead us out of this after 6 years of rhetoric.

April 16, 2014 06:01 am at 6:01 am |

Name jk. Sfl. THE KOCH BROTHERS GOP STOOGES PARTY NEEDS to be VOTED OUT IN NOVEMBER !!!!

Nothing like being endorsed by a five time loser for political office , this GOP retread should just stay home and count his ullage stolen pension fund money!!!!

April 16, 2014 06:04 am at 6:04 am |

IdahoYooper

The Mormon people of Idaho will vote blindly for anyone the church tells them to. So much for separation of church and state. It is a CULT religion!

April 16, 2014 07:57 am at 7:57 am |

Brenda Morrisey

I absolutely love Mitt Romney. I live in Massachusetts. The last time we had a budget surplus and talk about lower taxes was with Mitt Romney, the last time we had a rainy day fund was with Mitt Romney. The last time we saw job growth was with Mitt Romney. We need jobs. None of these jokers running the country today know anything about economics or jobs. They only know how to spend money.

April 16, 2014 07:57 am at 7:57 am |

PR

Republicans...especially the Tea Party...don't care about the working class. Watch out what you ask for...they will throw you to the curb to die. IF you don't believe what they want you to believe they will put you in prison. The Tea Party is full of Nazi's.